LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Cory Vaughn delivered a tiebreaking two-run double to highlight a five-run ninth as the Mets beat the Atlanta Braves, 6-2, Monday at ESPN Wide World of Sports.
The rally gave the Mets (1-3) their first Grapefruit League victory.
The Mets had mustered only three hits entering the final inning, after posting a combined eight hits the previous two games. Then they got on track.
Vaughn With the Mets trailing 2-1, Andrew Brown had a leadoff triple against left-hander Atahualpa Severino. Dustin Lawley followed with a game-tying sinking line single to center field. Taylor Teagarden also singled. Anthony Seratelli’s ensuing bunt resulted in the lead runner getting caught at third. But Vaughn, the son of former major-leaguer Greg Vaughn, followed with a two-run double. Matt den Dekker chased Severino with an RBI single. After Severino departed, Eric Campbell had an RBI single against right-hander Mark Lamm.
Ryan Reid had surrendered a pair of eighth-inning runs as the Braves (0-6) took the lead.
After Noah Syndergaard wowed for two innings, including blowing a 98 mph fastball by Jason Heyward for a game-opening strikeout, the zeroes continued. Jeurys Familia, Josh Edgin and Miguel Socolovich combined for five additional scoreless frames.
"We've like to see more strikes, but he's getting better and better," Terry Collins said about Familia.
The Mets, held hitless through three innings against Freddy Garcia, finally placed a runner on base when Juan Lagares produced a one-out single to right field against left-hander Ryan Buchter. Lucas Duda and Matt Clark then walked, and Wilmer Flores delivered a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead.
Flores finished the game at shortstop for a second straight day.
What’s next: The Mets host the Houston Astros on Tuesday at 1:10 p.m. at Tradition Field (SNY). Zack Wheeler opposes left-hander Rudy Owens. Also scheduled to pitch for the Mets: Kyle Farnsworth, John Church, Vic Black, Adam Kolarek, Scott Rice and Cory Mazzoni.